Debre Damo Monastery
Coordinates: 14 ° 22 ′ 29 ″ N , 39 ° 17 ′ 31 ″ E
The Debre Damo monastery ( Amharic ደብረ ዳሞ ) is located in northern Ethiopia , west of Adigrat in the Tigray region . Debre Damo, like Wehni and Amba Geshen , was used as a royal prison for the heirs of the Negus .
The monastery can only be reached by means of a rope that is stretched along the 24 meter high rock. It is known for the manuscript collection and the first church built in Ethiopia. It is believed that the monastery was founded by Abuna Aregawi in the 6th century . The monastery building, which has been rebuilt several times, dates back to the 9th century.
The outer walls are made of alternating layers of wood and limestone, which have been fitted with protruding tree stumps, which the locals call monkey heads.
The first thing you see when entering the church is the narthex . There are wood carvings on the floor showing peacocks, monkeys, lions and some mythical creatures. The type of work is reminiscent of a Romanesque church. The stones that support the roof of the nave are remains from Aksum , with the needs for the interior of the church breaking through the Aksumian style.
Despite its remote location, the monastery is regularly visited by tourists. Women are not allowed to enter the monastery, but can go to a church at the bottom of the hill to pray.
Access to the monastery
Monastery courtyard with main church
Entrance to the main church
Interior of the main church
Monk huts
Aregawi Church
Church for women at the foot of Debre Damo
literature
- Paul B. Henze: Layers of Time. History of Ethiopia. C. Hurst, London 2000, ISBN 1-85065-393-3 , p. 36.
- Günther Nelles (Ed.): Ethiopia. 2nd Edition. Nelles Verlag, Munich 1997, ISBN 3-88618-705-5 , pp. 105-107.
